Acting President Professor Yemi Osinbajo has ordered with immediate effect the complete overhaul of the management of Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).
The acting president also ordered that the activities of SARS should be halted.
A release signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, categorically stated that any unit that will emerge after the overhaul must be “intelligence-driven”
“Following persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that border on allegations of human rights violation, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinabajo, has directed the Inspector General of Police, to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS and ensure that any unit that will emerge from the process, will be intelligence-driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences, and nothing more.
“The Acting President has also directed the IGP to ensure that all operatives in the emerging Unit conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Humanitarian Law and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects. The operatives should also bear proper identification anytime they are on duty.
“In the meantime, the Acting President has directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a committee that will conduct a nationwide investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of SARS in order to afford members of the general public the opportunity to present their grievances with a view to ensure redress,” the release read.
It will be recalled that there have been several calls by Nigerians on social media, urging the Federal Government and the Nigerian Police to caution the activities of SARS owing to reported brutalities suffered by their victims, which have claimed to be innocent in most cases.
While celebrating the announcement, the convener of the #EndSARS campaign, Segun Awosanya, thanked Prof Osinbajo and Nigerians in what he described as the time to build a new Nigeria. he also thanked the Police in his tweet, saying “Out with the old and welcome the new. #OsinbajoDelivers.
We WON Guys! #EndSARS #ReformPoliceNG @julietkego @Tutsy22 @DrJoeAbah Time to build a new. The #NewNigeria is real. Congrats to @PoliceNG as we begin to reform. Out with the Old and welcome the New. 👏🏼👏🏼 #OsinbajoDelivers pic.twitter.com/jHlyjbirsn
— SEGA L'éveilleur® (@segalink) August 14, 2018
Acting President Osinbajo announced the sack of former Department of State Service (DSS), Lawal Daura, barely a week ago, following the bloackade of the National Assembly on August 7, 2018.